Our Ranking Algorithm | PaintersNearMe.org

Supporting Local Painting Contractors

We help locally-owned painting businesses be seen in every city. Our algorithm is designed to surface established local contractors who've built their reputation through years of quality work.

Eligibility Requirements

Before a painter can be ranked, they must meet all three of these requirements:

🏠

Locally Owned

Owner must be local to the service area. No national franchises or corporate chains.

Required

📅

5+ Years in Business

Must have at least 5 years of continuous operation. Proves stability and commitment.

Required

⭐

Multi-Platform Reviews

Reviews on at least 2 platforms (Google, Yelp, BBB, etc.). Established businesses have presence everywhere.

Required

Automatically Excluded

National franchises (CertaPro, Five Star Painting, 360 Painting, etc.)
Companies less than 5 years old
Businesses with reviews on only one platform

How Scores Are Calculated

Once a painter meets eligibility requirements, their score is calculated from public data:

⭐

40%

Average Rating

Averaged across Google, Yelp, BBB

📊

30%

Review Volume

Total reviews across all platforms

📅

20%

Years in Business

5 years = baseline, 10+ = maximum

🌐

10%

Website Quality

Professional site with contact info

No pay-to-rank: Sponsored ads are clearly labeled and never affect organic rankings. You cannot buy a higher score.

Scoring Breakdown

Factor	Weight	How It's Calculated
Average Rating	40 points max	Average star rating across Google, Yelp, and BBB. 5.0 stars = 40 points, 3.0 stars = 0 points.
Review Volume	30 points max	Total reviews across all platforms, log-scaled. More reviews = higher score, with diminishing returns after 500.
Years in Business	20 points max	5 years = 10 points (baseline). 10+ years = 20 points (maximum). Rewards longevity.
Website Quality	10 points max	Has professional website with contact information, service descriptions, and photos.

Why These Requirements?

Our requirements are designed to surface the best local painters:

Local ownership means the owner lives in your community and stands behind their work.
5+ years in business filters out companies that may not be around to honor warranties.
Multi-platform reviews ensure the reputation is real and consistent across the internet.

National franchises are excluded because the "local" franchise owner often has limited control over quality, and corporate profits leave your community.

Data Sources

We aggregate public review data from multiple sources:

Google Maps - Star rating and review count
Yelp - Star rating and review count
Better Business Bureau - Rating and accreditation status
State Licensing Boards - License verification (where available)

Rankings are refreshed monthly to keep data current.